"Huh?"
Artoleia blinked for half a second after hearing Guinevere's words.
"How does that make me a genius?"
"Idiot."
Facing off against a phantom beast, Bavanzi scoffed and snapped:
"Can't even catch sarcasm? Guinevere's just being nice and didn't want to hurt your feelings. Why are you digging for the truth yourself, you dumb genius?"
"Ugh..."
Just as Artoleia began looking for a hole in the ground to crawl into, Guinevere sighed and said with a hint of exasperation:
"Come on, do I really look like that kind of guy?"
With that, he abruptly turned and, using the momentum from the twist, hurled the shield with all his strength.
A flash of white streaked through the air, and the next moment, the head of a distant chimera exploded without so much as a whimper, dropping dead on the spot.
The gleaming white arc then curved back through the sky and landed precisely back in Guinevere's hand.
The sight stunned Bavanzi, who had just opened her mouth to pile on a few more jabs at Artoleia.
It was a skill Guinevere had acquired long ago, one nearly forgotten:
[Shield Throw Proficiency · E]
Among all weapon proficiencies, this is considered one of the most niche. However, if leveled up, it can produce unexpectedly powerful results.
At the current level, if your thrown shield isn't intercepted, you can guarantee accuracy on your first two hits. However, you cannot ensure it will return to you properly.
If he remembered right, he picked up this skill during a Saint Sword simulation, when he had gone to challenge the shadow of King Uther in the far north of the fairy realm. It was during that trial he developed a shield-throwing technique and was granted the skill as a reward.
But the skill was so low-level and so specific, it had faded from memory—until today, when Artoleia's bizarre creations suddenly made it the star of the show...
And maybe even a game-changer.
Raising his head once more, Guinevere glanced at the remaining phantasmals, then launched his shield again.
The flying shield blazed through the air like a shooting star, instantly caving in a golem's skull. Without pause, it rebounded sideways, slamming into the waist of a two-horned beast and sending it flying through several trees. It landed in a crumpled heap, clearly beyond saving.
The shield then soared upward.
Sensing danger, the last wyvern flapped its wings and tried to flee, but just as it rose a few meters, the shield plummeted from above. The edge clipped its wing clean off.
The shield embedded itself deep into the earth, and the shrieking wyvern crashed down beside it.
Before it could even struggle to rise, Guinevere dashed forward, raised his sword, and decapitated it cleanly.
When the seamless series of kills was over, he turned to find Artoleia, Bavanzi, and Oberon all standing dumbfounded.
"So yeah... turns out this thing's actually pretty useful."
Guinevere added casually.
But inside, he was amazed.
He actually pulled it off...
That triple kill looked flawless, but he knew better—it was mostly luck.
With only an E-rank skill, he was nowhere near the level of Captain America, flinging shields with pinpoint control.
Technically, he could direct the shield to hit two targets before returning... but only if he set himself as the second target. If both targets were enemies, the trajectory became unpredictable.
Still—what you lack in aim, sometimes your enemy makes up for by stepping right into it.
Just then, the system pinged in his mind:
Ding—"Battle Fervor" triggered.
Due to your extraordinary performance, landing a never-before-seen triple-hit with your shield throw, your skill [Shield Throw Proficiency] has leveled up.
[Shield Throw Proficiency · D]
While still considered one of the most niche weapon proficiencies, with dedicated training under special conditions, your throws have become more accurate and unpredictable.
You can now guarantee accuracy on your next three hits, or choose to hit two enemies and have the shield return to your hand precisely.
Additionally, you can throw your shield in a parabolic arc, causing it to land at a pre-selected location a few seconds later.
"...Holy crap."
Guinevere stared at the notifications, stunned.
Not just because of the skill's improved effects—but because it had upgraded so quickly.
He'd only managed that three-hit combo because of pure luck. And yet, "Battle Fervor" had turned that fluke into a real, permanent upgrade?
He reread the buff description, his eyes pausing on: "You will gain breakthroughs or improvements more easily during combat."
Then he suddenly spun around.
"All right, let's go! My friends!"
Eyes shining with excitement, Guinevere declared:
"From now on, leave every monster we meet to me!"
"Hmm~"
Back in reality, after that spectacular triple kill in the simulation, "Artoleia" suddenly hummed a tune in delight and turned smugly to "Bavanzi."
"What's with the creepy humming?"
Bavanzi, frowning, pulled her gaze away from the simulation and asked with annoyance.
"Heh. See? I am a genius."
Artoleia pointed at herself proudly with her thumb.
"That wasn't sarcasm at all—Guinevere meant it literally. I am a genius. Unlike some people who've probably never heard a compliment like that in their entire lives—especially not from Guinevere."
"Why you..."
Furious, Bavanzi clenched her teeth.
"You looking to die today? You sick in the head?"
"Oh—"
Artoleia suddenly clapped her hands.
"Oops, forgot for a sec—you're a dumbass. Compliments like that are totally wasted on you."
"That's it!"
Unable to take the mocking any longer, Bavanzi let out a scream and lunged at Artoleia. In no time at all, the two were tumbling on the ground in a noisy scuffle.
Of course, this little brawl didn't go unnoticed by the nearby "Guinevere," who was pretending to sleep.
...Was Artoleia always like this?
Listening to the clamor behind him, Guinevere couldn't help but wonder.
She never used to be this aggressive. Back in the day, she was usually the one yelling "That's enough!" while fuming.
But ever since meeting Bavanzi, Artoleia seemed to have grown more sharp-tongued and confrontational.
And because Bavanzi wasn't exactly quick on comebacks, Artoleia's wider vocabulary made her way more dangerous in verbal combat.
Just then, the ruckus suddenly died down.
Breathing heavily, "Bavanzi" finally spoke:
"Fine, whatever. You win this round. So what?"
She shoved the smirking "Artoleia" off her and added, frowning:
"So, did you recreate that power crystal and shield from the simulation or what?"
"Uh..."
Artoleia, who had just been tugging at Bavanzi's hair, suddenly froze mid-motion.
"Yeah, well... I've been kinda focused on the simulation, so I haven't... gotten around to that yet."
"Dumbass."
Bavanzi muttered:
"Then what the hell are you gloating about? The 'you' in the simulation doesn't mean squat. If the real you can make something useful, then you can brag."
"Quit wasting time with this petty rivalry. Go recreate that shield and crystal from the sim. If you can pull it off, I'll admit you're stronger than me—no problem."
"We're still not out of danger yet. Try thinking big picture, will you?"
...Holy crap. The end is nigh.
Even "Guinevere," still pretending to sleep, couldn't help but open his eyes in shock.
He'd never imagined he'd one day hear Bavanzi say something like "think big picture"—let alone follow it with such calm, rational advice... and willingly place herself below Artoleia?
Guinevere was overcome with emotion, on the verge of tears.
...She's grown up. My dumb little fairy... she's really grown up.
All those hours he'd spent mentoring her in past simulations weren't wasted after all.
Right now, he felt like a proud father watching his awkward daughter finally come of age.
Of course, Guinevere didn't know that much of Bavanzi's growth actually stemmed from the fate simulation they had completed just the day before.
Before that simulation, Bavanzi had always believed that no matter what happened, Guinevere—brilliant and capable as he was—would solve everything. All she had to do was follow along and let him carry her.
But in that simulation, Bavanzi, Artoleia, and Guinevere were forced to separate for a time.
Even though she had been apart from him just like Artoleia, Artoleia still managed to pull off several feats that helped Guinevere significantly—and even acted as the main force that defeated a powerful enemy.
Bavanzi, on the other hand, had accomplished nothing.
Worse, she became a liability that Guinevere had to divert time and energy to manage.
It devastated her.
And when that simulation ended, Artoleia received an SSR title: "Holy Sword Fairy." Bavanzi got an SR title: "Vampiric Fairy."
Here's what they said:
[Holy Sword Fairy · SSR]
You are a chosen fairy of paradise, and the keeper of the Star of Hope. Your existence is a beacon in despair, the most brilliant light in darkness.
Your base stats and growth limits are increased by one level. Additionally, your allies gain increased luck while near you, making it easier for them to receive positive buffs.
[Vampiric Fairy · SR]
You are a fairy who feeds on blood to survive—a symbol of misfortune in the eyes of others. Even though it's not your fault, you've hurt those who love you in order to protect yourself.
Your durability increases by one level. You can heal or empower yourself by drinking blood—the closer the donor is to you, the more powerful the effect.
The contrast between these two titles was painfully clear. One brought light and luck to allies, the other brought misfortune and harm.
When Bavanzi saw what she had gained compared to Artoleia, she nearly ground her teeth to dust.
From that moment on, she made up her mind.
She would no longer be the dumb little burden holding Guinevere back.
She would become strong, clever, and capable—a reliable, thoughtful fairy who would be Guinevere's most dependable companion from now on.